Corruption, Part 7: No More
April 28th, 2010 by Samodean
(Read the previous entry here or refer to the Fiction Index for a full listing.)
“I will admit, boy, you have lasted far longer than I anticipated.” The Shadow Demon was hovering over Corrigan. “Don’t think for a moment that I’m disappointed. The longer you resist, the more I get to play with you.”
Corrigan had been in the torture chamber for… ever, it seemed. He could no longer remember a time in his life when he hadn’t been chained to this table. The only thing Corrigan knew, the only thing left to him, was the cycle.
The Shadow Demon, who hadn’t bothered to give a name, was unfortunately quite effective at his purpose. He would bring the Felhunter, Shaamon, to feed off Corrigan, using its otherworldly tentacles to pierce his chest, draining Corrigan’s very essence. A precise master, the Shadow Demon would always pull Shaamon away at the last second, leaving Corrigan completely drained of all life, energy and willpower, but still alive. He would allow Corrigan a period of rest, just enough to start feeling human again, and begin the treatment anew.
“Tell me, Paladin, are you enjoying this experience?” Corrigan did not even have energy to verbalize his response. The best he could do was weakly shake his head. “Then why do you still resist?
“Are you still waiting for your Light to save you? I have drained every drop of essence from both your body and spirit. If you had some sort of connection to this ‘greater power’ your kind speak so highly of, surely I would have found it by now. You are as empty as every other human I’ve been given.
“You are not special.”
“You… lie…” Corrigan was struggling to get every word out, but he would not go quietly. “All my life… I have… felt the Light… been assured of its existence… been… comforted by… its presence.”
“Is that what they’ve taught you? They must have gotten you young, boy, for you to be so indoctrinated. You feel the Light because they tell you you’re supposed to. You’re comforted by its presence because you fear the alternative. There is no Light, Paladin. Only lies, only deception.”
“Of course you’d… say that.”
“Oh I won’t merely say it. I’ll show you.”
The Shadow Demon beckoned Shaamon forward to feed once more. Hours passed. Corrigan wished for death. Again, he was left empty.
“Now, Paladin, reach within yourself. Feel for your Light. Prove me wrong.”
Corrigan did so, more out of defiance than compliance. He focused, feeling within himself. As expected he found… something?
“Ah, I can see it in your eyes. You’ve found your mythical Light.”
“I have demon. Your words are meaningless.”
“Foolish boy, are you that hopeless? That’s not the Light you’re feeling. That’s your own power. I called Shaamon off early. If you can’t tell the difference between your own strength and your Light, how can you say the Light was ever there?”
“I…” Corrigan had no argument. Could it be right? Corrigan though to himself. Have I been lied to all my life? I surely would have felt the Light by now, it would not abandon me when I need it the most. I… I have nothing left to live for. “No… more…”
“Ah. I have longed to hear those words. Now, allow me to show you true power.”
—
Rondrey’s back hurt.
He had spent the last several hours crawling through hidden passages in the Warlock’s coven along with Rusty. It was all for the best, though. He knew his plan was foolish, running off to face perhaps dozens of dark spellcasters alone. Thankfully, he had thought to bring Rusty along. The boy proved invaluable to getting in alive. Rusty knew of a network of hidden tunnels spread throughout the complex beneath the Slaughtered Lamb. They had thus far avoided detection, and were heading deeper and deeper into the darkness.
“Dark.”
“Aye, Rusty. Dark.” This exchange had been repeated at each intersection of the tunnels. Rusty would pause for a moment, say “Dark,” and move on. They were obviously heading in the right direction, though. The deeper they went, the weaker Rondrey felt, and not merely the physical fatigue of his old bones crawling on his hands and knees. His resolve was weakening, as if a small voice in the back of his head was constantly whispering to him, telling him to stop trying. A small bit of Rondrey wanted to just crawl into a corner and give up.
Rondrey muttered a quick prayer, mustering his resolve and continuing behind Rusty. He still felt the unexplainable weakness, but was able to move on.
Rusty continued to lead the way, seemingly unaffected by the forces at work. Finally, he found his goal. He quietly called Rondrey forward to look through a grate in the wall. They found themselves directly across from a large door, guarded by two Warlocks.
“Dark,” Rondrey muttered to himself.
—
Again the Felhunter went to work on Corrigan and again he wished for death.
“Now, Paladin, let me show you what we have to offer you.” He moved to Corrigan’s side in that odd walking-floating movement of his. He placed one hand over Corrigan’s eyes and another over his chest.
Corrigan could feel something within, a reserve of strength he had not felt before. Had the Light finally returned to him? He gasped with the sudden sensation.
“Ah, you feel it already. This is what we offer you. We offer you strength, we offer you comfort. Your Light was a lie, leaving you adrift. You will never be alone again.”
How could accepting anything this demon offered him be a good idea? But it just felt so right. Corrigan didn’t want to be alone any more.
“Yes. Make me whole.”
—
The door opened and a voice from within spoke to the Warlock guards. “He is ready. Take him to the master.”
Rondrey could not have been happier with what he saw next. Corrigan, dirty and emaciated, but whole and, more importantly, alive. He walked out of the room beyond and followed the guards down the hall.
“That’s him! We’ve got to get out of this hole, Rusty.” Rusty nodded, lifting a hidden latch and causing the grate to swing open.
Just as Rondrey turned to follow Corrigan down the hallway, the door opened once more. A voice emerged from the darkness beyond.
“Did you really think you would go unnoticed, Dwarf?”
—
Sylphine ran through the corridors as fast as her feet would take her. She had just heard the news. The ritual was beginning. Now was her chance to free Rina and run, as most of the other Warlocks would be in the ritual chamber.
Therin would have wanted to keep Rina nearby, likely in his own quarters. She stopped short of the next corner, carefully peeking around. There was a single guard at the door to the Grand Master’s rooms.
While Sylphine may have lacked the sheer power of many other Warlocks, she was second to none in her control and precision. She reached out, twisting the guard’s emotions. She prodded him just enough to make him decide that he would be more comfortable elsewhere, but not so much that he would notice her touch. The guard suddenly grew apprehensive, as if afraid of what may lie beyond the door he was guarding. He slowly retreated around the next corner, not quite abandoning his post, but out of direct eyesight.
Sylphine used the opening to slip into Therin’s quarters. Of course the door was unlocked, who would be stupid enough to enter the private sanctuary of the most powerful Warlock in Stormwind?
Sylphine looked around, finding Rina curled up in a corner of the room. “Rina!” she called out.
The girl’s head snapped up immediately. “Sylly! What are you doing here?”
“No time to explain, Rina. Time is short, we’re leaving.” They exchanged a quick embrace and Sylphine grabbed her sister’s hand. “Stay close, hopefully we can get out without being noticed.”
Sylphine cracked the door open, happy to see the guard was still gone. She turned back to Rina, “Let’s g-”
Therin was standing behind Rina, one hand on her shoulder. “You were right, child. She did come for you. You have done well, she will prove an excellent focuss.”
“What? I- why?”
“Isn’t it obvious, sister?” Rina responded. “The Shade provided the master with a host.
“And now I have given him the sacrifice for his portal.”
